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Topic: Bee removal in old machine (Read 1569 times)

I have been asked to remove two hives out of a old derelict workshop. One is in a small cable drum so that is easy. The other is in the crankcase of an old air compressor. It has two inspection holes in the crankcase about 4 X 3 inches. It is accessible and the openings about 18 inches off the ground. The covers have been removed and the bee's are using one as an entrance. The preference is to get the bee's out into a box and not poison them.My idea so far is to block off the entrance that they aren't using it and put something like a 4 inch pipe from the used entrance into a box that has some some frames with honey in it and hopefully the bees will start working the frames and the queen will move into the box as well.Any suggestions? I have not done a removal like this before.I believe I have till January to get them into a box before the building is demolished.

The things we’ll do to save bees! Glad to see it, you have a challenge. Cutting open the crankcase might be difficult. It’s metal and bees don’t like vibration. They might start trying to build comb outside the crank case in the spring or they may just swarm in the spring. The problem is they won’t do either before Spring (April?); so you have a problem if January is your deadline. Allen is probably right.

There is very little chance that you will get the queen to migrate on her own, especially in the time frame you have. I would recommend the traditional trap out method described above, if taking the equipment home is not an option or too much of a hassle.

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"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison

I removed a colony from an old water heater tank. It was lying more or less on its' side. I cut the bottom off off the thing using a recip saw. You should be able to open up this thing the same way. -js